Choose a small number of services
Reliable help on specific days is more useful than vague promises to “call the church.”
← How to help
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Community playbook
How churches and ministries can help
Build a ministry that combines compassion with clear boundaries, reliable information, practical assistance, and partnerships with existing providers.
Use what you can actually sustain.
Choose the parts of this guide that fit your role, resources, risk level, and community.
Quick start
Four principles to keep in mind
Publish the rules
Hours, limits, eligibility, and what to bring should be easy to find.
Know your local providers
Build referral relationships before a crisis arrives at the office door.
Protect volunteers
Use teams, public meeting spaces, and clear money/transportation policies.
Useful directories
Use statewide directories as a discovery tool, then verify services directly.
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Decide what your congregation can reliably provide
A church does not have to operate a shelter to fill meaningful gaps.
- ✓Possible services include meals, pantry food, clothing, hygiene supplies, laundry help, transportation, short-term motel assistance, document fees, utility help, classes, mentoring, phone access, or financial support for a partner organization.
- ✓Choose services that match your volunteers, budget, building, insurance, and local need.
- ✓Publish days, hours, spending limits, eligibility, and how often someone may receive help so volunteers are not inventing policy during an emotional conversation.
- ✓If a service is temporary or seasonal, state that clearly and update public listings when it changes.
02
Build a referral network before you need it
Church offices are often contacted when other systems are closed or hard to navigate.
- ✓Maintain a short, reviewed list of nearby shelters, food programs, day centers, transportation options, mental-health resources, domestic-violence services, and other common referrals.
- ✓Know which organizations accept walk-ins, which require calls, and which populations they serve.
- ✓Ask providers what they want churches to refer and what kinds of referrals waste staff time.
- ✓Submit any public service your church offers to OKHomeless so it can be found by the people who actually need it.
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Use boundaries that protect both volunteers and guests
A compassionate ministry still needs operational rules.
- ✓Avoid sending a lone volunteer to an unfamiliar private location when a team or public meeting location is safer.
- ✓Create a policy for cash, gift cards, motel payments, transportation, and repeat requests.
- ✓Pay vendors directly when that better fits the ministry’s risk policy.
- ✓Train volunteers to leave or call for help if someone becomes threatening or refuses reasonable safety boundaries.
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Support long-term stability
Relationships can become a strength when they complement professional and community services.
- ✓Offer practical mentoring, transportation to appointments, job-search help, budgeting support, classes, social connection, or other sustainable roles volunteers can maintain.
- ✓Work with experienced providers when needs involve serious mental illness, substance-use treatment, domestic violence, medical care, or other specialized services.
- ✓Treat each person as an individual rather than assuming the same service or spiritual support will fit everyone.